Sprinkler



F. M. HOLDEN Jan. 5, 1937.

SPRINKLER 2 Sheets-Sheet l4 Filed March 23, 1934 INVENTOR. F9772? M Hal/627,

ATTORNEYS.'

jan. 5, 1937. l F, M. HQL'DEN I 2,066,531

` SPRINKLER Filed March 25, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheetv 2 NVENTOR.

716777( M- Holden,

wam.

A TTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 5, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPRINKLER I Fehn M. Holden, Pontiac, Mich. Application Marchas, 1934, serial No. 716,975

17 claims. (o1. 299-69) The invention relates to lawn sprinklers and has particular relation to sprinklers having fluid actuated, rotary nozzles.

While sprinklers of the fluid actuated, rotary type are in general use, several unsatisfactory factors enter into the construction and operation of at least the ordinary types. One of the factors is that thrust bearing surfaces are utilized, and this not only adds vto the cost of manufacture but decreases the durability of the structure. Again, when relatively rotary or slidable parts are employed, packing has ordinarily been provided for preventing leakage of water and this increases the frictional resistance to movement of said parts and furthermore it is not durable and must be replaced or adjusted at intervals. Additionally, the sprays or streams of water thrown by the sprinklers frequently do not uniformly cover the area intended tol be watered owing to the arrangement and operation of the sprinkler nozzles, from which it follows that one portion of the lawn is watered more than another, and this condition is not desirable.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a sprinkler of the rotary type which will throw sprays or streams of Water in a more uniform manner over the area of lawn intended to be watered.

Another object of the present invention is to vprovide a sprinkler of the rotary nozzle type Another object of the invention is to provide a` sprinkler of the fluid actuated rotary type which eliminates the undesirable effects of leakage of water between relatively rotatable or slidable parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sprinkler of the uid actuated rotary type wherein any leaking water is efliciently sprinkled over the lawn around the sprinkler so as to provide, in effect, an active, auxiliary sprinkler system.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sprinkler of the fluid actuated rotary type wherein the Water acts as a thrust bearing between relatively rotatable parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sprinkler of the rotary type wherein certain out- Y lets may play stream or spray on the lawn at a pressure below the line pressure in the water supply line and wherein other nozzles may play a stream or spray on the lawn at a pressure substantially corresponding to the pressure in the Water supply line.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the drawings,I the specication relating thereto, and from the claims hereinafter set forth.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a vertical, cross-sectional view of a sprinkler constructed according to one form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 1 illustrating another form of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an elevational view, largely in crosssection, of a sprinkler constructed according to another form of the invention.

Fig. 6 isa fragmentary view of the sprinkler shown by Fig. 5, illustrating the relation of parts when the water in the supply lineis turned off.

Fig. 7 is a plan view on a. larger scale of the structure shown by Fig. 6.

Fig.` 8 is a fragmentary view of the sprinkler shown by Fig. 5, provided with a lower set of outlet openings.

Referring to Fig. 1, the base of the sprinkler is indicated at IU and this base may be in the form of a tripod or other form of support, as will be readily understood. The base may have an elbow II threadedly connected at one end to a water supply line or hose I2 and at its opposite end to a vertically extending pipe I3 threaded into the opposite end of the elbow. A tubular castingv or housing I4 `is slidably arranged on the pipe I3 and adjacent the upper end of the latter has an enlarged chamber I5 and a still larger chamber I 6 above the latter, which is closed at its upper end by a cap plate I'I. Ihe latter is secured to the casting by machine screws I8 and has a plug portion I9 partiallyv projecting into the chamber I6. A plurality of bosses having openings 2| communicating with the chamber IG project radially from the upper end of the casting and each of the bosses has a pipe 22 'threaded thereinto. The outer end of each pipe may be provided with a nozzle 23v having a series of openings 24 at one side from which the' water may be thrown tangentially and while the nozzle shown is only illustrative and various other forms may be employed, it will be readily appreciated that water forced from the openings will cause the sprinkler to rotate. In the construction shown four of the pipes may be used, and these pipes may be arranged in 90 spaced relation.

The upper end of the pipe I3 is threaded into an inverted cup having a solid end wall and a side wall provided with a plurality of openings 26 through which water from the pipe may now into the chambers I5 and I6. The end wall 25 has a radially projecting rim 21 that may substantially correspond to the diameter of the chamber I6 although a loose fit is satisfactory.

When water flows through the pipe I3, the movement of the casting I4 will depend on several factors. The weight of the casting and the pressure of the water on the shoulders at the lower ends of chambers I5 and I6 will tend to move the casting downwardly, whereas the pressure of the water against the plug I9 will tend to move it upwardly. While slight friction may resist movement of the casting, normally this is negligible. When the opposing forces are equal, the casting will be in a position of equilibrium and while this position may vary during operation, depending on water pressure conditions, the casting will be held in an intermediate position where it is supported by and rotates on a body of water.

While frictional resistance to water ow, centrifugal force and perhaps other factors may be present, the pressure of the water in pipes 22 substantially may be determined according to the following formula: PiA1=P2A2+W wherein P is the pressure in pipes 22 and chamber I6, A1 the area of the lower face of plug I9, P2 the line pressure in pipe I2 and chamber I5, A2 the area of the shoulders at the lower ends of chambers I5 and I6, and W the weight of the casting I4.

With the parts arranged as shown and without the water being turned on, the weight of the casting naturally will cause it to drop until the plug portion I9 rests on the end wall 25 of the cap. When the water is turned on, it flows upwardly into the pipe I3 and laterally through the openings 26 into the chambers I5 and I6 and at the same time it flows radially into the pipes 22. As the water flows from the openings 26 into the chamber I6 and the pipes 22 below the end wall 25, suilicient water also will creep between the edge of the rim 21 and the side wall of the chamber I6 so as to ow between the plug I9 and the end wall 25 and exert an upward pressure against the plug portion, and this will cause the casting I4 to move vertically with respect to the pipe I3. This action occurs quickly when the water is turned on, and as the casting I4 moves upwardly, the rim 21 gradually restricts the openings 2I leading to the pipes 22. As these openings become restricted, the pressure of the water above the end wall 25 and in the pipes 22 will decrease and it follows that the upward pressure of the water on the plug portion I9 will decrease and the force which tends to elevate the casting will become smaller. This restriction of the openings and reduction of water pressure in the pipes 22 and above the end wall 25 continues until the weight of the casting I4 plus the force acting against the shoulders at the lower ends of chambers I5 and I6 balances the force of the water acting to move the casting I4 upwardly and then a state of equilibrium will exist.

If the line pressure of the water decreases, an

instant drop in pressure of the water acting against the plug I9 will occur and the casting will move downwardly and this results in the rim 21 uncovering more of the openings I6. This in turn reduces the pressure drop of the water as it flows through the openings I6. The final result seems to be that the pressure of the water in the pipes 22 and above the end wall 25 will be a substantially constant percentage of the line pressure although as the pressure decreases the weight of the casting will become more of a factor in the formula previously set forth and will cause more of a variation in the percentage.

It will be appreciated that during normal operation the casting I4 is rotating on a body of water and that the only metal parts that might contact are those along the periphery of the pipe I3 and rim 21. End thrust metal bearings are thus eliminated and this is very advantageous because the parts subject to the greatest wear in a sprinkler of this type manufactured previously are those taking end thrust. Even along the surface of the pipe I3 the downwardly flowing or leaking water will efciently serve as a water bearing to avoid wear of the housing and pipe so that all relative movable parts of the sprinkler will have a water bearing between them.

Some leakage of water can occur downwardly between the casting I4 and the pipe I3 as a tight t is not desirable for the reason that the parts should rotate freely relative to one another and in order to prevent this leaking water from dropping under the sprinkler and not being used effectively, the lower end of the casting may be provided with four radial projections that have openings 3| extending to the space around the pipe I3. The inner ends of these openings communicate with an annular passage 32 and when water flows downwardly along the pipe, it ows into the annular passage 32 and since the water is constantly being subjected to centrifugal force, it is urged radially into the openings 3| and from these openings it is ejected in the form of a stream that plays for a short distance away from the axis of rotation of the sprinkler. Practically no water would leak past the openings 3I along the pipe I3 because the water as soon as it reaches the annular passage 32 immediately is drawn radially into the openings 3 I. This construction avoids the use of packing and enables obtaining a greater freedom of relative rotation between the casting and the pipe, and furthermore simplifies manufacturing the sprinkler because tight fitting assemblies are not necessary.

It may be desirable in a sprinkler of this character also to have shorter pipes communicating with the lower part of the chamber I5 as indicated at 34, and these are connected to the casting in such manner that they communicate with the chamber I5. The water thatv flows through these pipes will have substantially line pressure and hence will play more powerful streams of water over the lawn. While various forms of nozzles may be used on the outer ends of the pipes 34, it may be preferable to use straight nozzles so that the water will be thrown radially from the end of the pipes over much greater distances and so that the water thrown from the pipes 22 will control rotation of the sprinkler. Any number of the pipes 34 may be used and they may be located in Vertical alignment with the pipes E2 or in intermediate positions as found most desirable. The pipes 34 may or may not be provided, and if provided, they may be closed whenever desired by using suitable valves indicated at 35. Thus, the

'flut luser may .at his option have a combination sprinkleror asprinkler wherein the pipes 22 only will be utilized. Y Y

The construction shown by Fig. 3 is similar to thatshown by Fig. 1 excepting that the end 'wall 25 has a central opening 36 adapted to receive a valve head 31 which is mounted on a stem 38 rigidly connected to the cap I1. In this construction when the water is turned off, the end wall 25 is resting against the plug portion I9, but the opening 35 is clear so that Water vmay flow therethrough and upwardly against the plug portion I9 so as to immediately raise the casting. It was mentioned in connection with Fig. l'that when the end wall 25 rested against the plug I9, water initially owing through the pipe I3 would creep around the edge of the rim 21 and in between the plug I9 and end wall and force the casting upwardly as the rim would have a loose fit which readily permitted this water to creep around its edge. The same construction may be used in Fig. 3, although it may be preferable -to employ the opening 36 and valve head 31 so that the water ows immediately through the end wall. As the casting'raises, the valve head 31 approaches the end wall 25 and gradually restricts the opening 35 thus increasing the drop in pressure and nally will close it substantially when the casting is raised a suicientamount to cause the valve head 31 to move into the opening. It is also practical to use an opening in the end wall 25 without using the valve, but this opening should be small enough so as to not substantially interfere with the pressure drops eifected by controlling the size of the openings I6. This construction also may be provided with the pipes 34 as will be readilyunderstood.

For dissipating any leaking water that may occur a slightly diiferent arrangement is shown in Fig. 3 as compared to that shown in Fig. l. `In this construction any water leaking between the pipe and casting reaches a ilared opening 4|] at the lower end of the casting and owing to centrifugal force is thrown outwardly along the sides of this opening and upon a disk 4I where it is thrown radially beyondthe 'periphery of the disk by centrifugal force. The disk may be suported by a plurality of straps 42 connected Vby screws 43 to the lower end of the casting and riveted to the outer edge of the disk. To positively prevent any water from flowing along the pipe and below the disk, a water shed 44 is tightly fixed on the pipe below the opening 4I) and is of conical shape so that any water reaching it will 'drip downwardly or be thrown laterally upon the 'disk 4I. The central portion of the disk may be upwardly flared, as indicated at 45, to further prevent any water from leaking evenpast the shed 44 along the pipe I3. f

In the construction shown by Fig. 5, a pipe is provided and while this pipe may be connected to a water supply line, such as shown by the previous figures, it is shown as being threaded into a joint 5I provided in the length of a hose 52. Also, if desired, the joint 5I may have an anchoring element 53 by means of which it may be pressed into the ground to hold the pipe 50 in an upright position.

At its upper end the pipe 50 projects into a tubular shell or housing 54 which is enlarged at its upper end to provide a chamber 55, and for allowing water from the pipe 50 to enter this chamber the pipe has circumferentially spaced openings '55. The chamber is partially atleast 75:; defined by a conical wall 51 and acylindrical wall 5B and while a horizontal shoulder might be provided in place of the conical wall, the conical wall is preferred as it facilitates vmanufacturing the tubular element 54 from sheet metal by means of metal drawing operations. Above the conical wall 51, the tubular element 54 has a cylindrical wall 59.which is closed at its upper end by a screwcap 6I) which has a plurality of angled openings indicated at II. These openings may be arranged in different ways but in the construction illustrated and as best shown by Fig. 7, two of the openings are arranged in diametrically opposed relation to each other and are disposed in radial planes while two openings also arranged in ydiametrically opposed relation and between the first pair of openings are tangentially directed so that water flowing therethrough will tend to rotate the tubular element.

The upper end of the pipe 50 and above the openings 56, has a cap 62 mounted thereon in a xed manner such Vas by soldering, welding or screw-threading it on the pipe, and this cap has a rim 63 which is adapted to cooperate with the conical wall 51 so as to variably restrict the opening through which Water may flow to a point above the cap, depending upon the relative positions of the pipe and tubular element. At its lower end, the tubular-element 54 is ared outwardly as indicated at 64 so that any water leaking downwardly between the tubular element and pipe will be directed into the flared opening and along the ared portion 64 and be centrifugally thrown around the sprinkler in a spray form.

Initially with the water turned off, the tubular element 54 is in its lower position with the cap resting on the cap 62 as shown in Fig. 6, and when the water is turned on it immediately flows through the pipe 5I), openings 56, around the rim 63 and upwardly against the cap 60 and through the openings 6 I. Water 'flowing through the tangentially arranged openings in the cap 6I) will cause the element 54 to rotate and simultaneously the tubular element will be raised owing to the pressure of the water on the cap. In this construction, the weight of the tubular element plus the force of the water acting on the conical portion 51 and the shoulder below this cylindrical portion 58 will tend to move the element downwardly while the pressure on the water against the cap 60 will tend to move the tubular eleme-nt upwardly. As soon as the water is turned on, the element will be moved upwardly owing to the fact that the force against the cap 60 is greater, but as the element moves upwardly the rim $3 on the cap 62 begins to restrict the opening along the conical portion 51 thereby causing a greater drop in pressure through the opening so that the force tending to elevate the tubular element becomes smaller. Finally a balanced condition will prevail where the tubular element will rotate and float on a water bearing similiarly to the manner in which the previous constructions operate. Substantially the same formula previously set forth will apply in this construction insofar as determining the pressure of the water thrown from the openings 6I.

If desired, this type of sprinkler may be provided with openings 66 in the side wall 58 below the conical portion 51, as shown inFig. 8, so as to allow water to be thrown from the sprinkler at substantially line pressure. 'I'hese openings thus provide an auxiliary sprinkling system for throwing longer streams of water around the sprinkler and such kopenings maybe .located in alternating relation to the openings BI or in variable arrangements as may be found desirable.

'I'his construction is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture as the tubular element 54 may be constructed from sheet metal by drawing operations well understood in the art and the construction of the caps 62 and 60 is very inexpensive. Sprinklers of this character throw streams of water in well balanced relation and as will be evident by Fig. 7, if the two different types of openings are employed in the cap 60, the radial streams and tangential streams will cover different areas. Furthermore, if the construction shown in Fig. 8 is employed, longer jets of water will be thrown around the sprinkler as the pressure of the water in the openings 66 will be greater thereby providing an arrangement which will efficiently and uniformly cover a large area. In addition to this, the dissipation of leaking water from the flared openings at the lower end of the tubular element 54 will eiiciently cover the area more closely adjacent to the sprinkler.

In any of the constructions illustrated, it will be appreciated that assembly and disassembly of the parts may be readily accomplished by removing the upper cap and then removing the cap on the upper end of the pipe.

Thus the parts are readily accessible if it should ever be necessary to clean the sprinkler or make any replacements or repairs. Furthermore, all of the sprinklers are practically free from parts that might wear out, as metal-tometal friction is practically eliminated, and this greatly increases the durability of the construction. The invention also enables an effective dissipation of any leaking water and through this, renders it unnecessary to use the ordinary packing that is not durable and which increases the resistance to rotary movement of the sprinkler casting. Provision of the water bearing not only eliminates thrust bearings but provides a greater freedom of rotation so that the sprinkler will easily turn during its operation.

Although more than one form of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing fiom the spirit of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A sprinkler comprising a tubular element, a hollow member having sprinkler outlets and a projecting tubular portion rotatably mounted on the element, means for supplying water under pressure to the element, means for rotating the member, and means adjacent the free end of the tubular portion for receiving any water leaking from the end of the latter and centrifugally throwing the water around the sprinkler, said means comprising an annular recess adjacent the free end of the tubular portion and on the interior thereof, and outlet means projecting from the latter and communicating with the recess.

2. A sprinkler comprising a tubular element, means for supplying water under pressure to the tubular element, a rotary sprinkler housing on the end of the element and having a tubular portion telescopically receiving the element, means for eifecting rotation of the housing, and means on the free end of such tubular portion and rotatable therewith for causing any water leaking to such free end to be thrown outwardly and away from the axis of rotation of the housing, the last mentioned means comprising a disk on the free end of the tubular portion and axially spaced from such end and a water shed on the element between the disk and free end of the tubular portion for causing any water leaking along the element to be deposited on the disk.

3. A sprinkler comprising a tubular element having a closed end, an outwardly projecting rim on such end and apertures in its side wall inwardly of the rim, means for supplying water under pressure to the other end of the element, a sprinkler housing rotatably mounted on and receiving the first end, said housing having an interior diameter of such dimensions as to reciprocally receive the rim while allowing water to iiow past the rim and into the housing above the closed end of the element and also having apertures above the rim to permit water to flow out of the housing, and a conical inner wall on the housing below the rim and adapted to cooperate therewith for contracting the space through which the water flows into the housing space above the rim depending upon vertical movement of the housing.

4. A sprinkler comprising a tubular element having a closed end, an outwardly projecting rim on such end, and apertures in its side wall inwardly of the rim, means for supplying water under pressure to the other end of the element, a sprinkler housing rotatably mounted on and receiving the iirst ond, said housing having an interior diameter of such dimensions as to reciprocally receive the rim while allowing Water to flow past the rim and into the housing space above the closed end of the element and also having apertures above the rim to permit water to iiow out of the housing, and a conical inner wall on the housing below the rim and adapted to cooperate therewith for contracting the space through which the water flows into the housing space above the rim depending upon vertical movement of the housing, the outlet openings in the upper portion of the housing being located in the upper end wall thereof and being so directed as to cause the water iiowing therethrough to effect turning of the housing.

5. A rotary sprinkler comprising a tubular element adapted to be connected to a water pressure line and having an outlet at its other end, a rotary sprinkler housing slidably receiving said end of the element and having sprinkler outlets, an end wall on the housing beyond the outlet on the element, means on the end of the element and cooperating with a portion of the housing for throttling the iiow of water through the sprinkler outlets and varying the amount of water pressure on the end wall as the housing slides on the element and decreasing the pressure on the end wall as the housing moves outwardly, and unbalanced shoulder means on the housing and eX- posed constantly to the water line pressure for effecting a water pressure thrust in the opposite direction, the housing being outwardly moved until its own resistance to movement plus the water thrust against the shoulder means balances the decreasing water thrust against said end wall.

6. A sprinkler comprising a housing having a chamber, an entry bore for receiving a conduit and outlets for allowing water to be sprinkled and which communicate with the chamber, a conduit connected to a water pressure line and slidably projecting through the bore and into the chamber, means communicating the conduit with the chamber, means providing a non-counterbalanced surface area in the chamber constantly exposed to water at the line pressure and so arranged that the pressure acting against the area acts to move the housing inwardly on the conduit, means providing larger non-counterbalanced surfacearea against which water pressure will act to move the'housing outwardly, and means on the conduit and cooperating with a portion of the housing'during sliding movement of the housing on the conduit liorvaryingthe eiective size of the outlets and thewater pressure acting against the second area,'so that outward movement of the housing gradually reduces the water pressure against' said second surface, whereby the housing will move in one direction-or the other until one opposing force and the weight of the housing balance the other force. 7. A sprinkler comprising a housing having a chamber, `an entry bore for receiving a conduit and outlets for allowing water to be sprinkled and which communicate with the chamber, a conduit connected to a water pressure line'and slidably projecting through the bore and into the chamber, means communicating the conduit with the chamber, means. providing a non-counterbalanced surface area in the chamber constantly eX- posed to water at the line pressure and so arranged that the pressure acting against the area acts to move thehousing inwardly on the conduit, means providing larger non-counterbalanced surface area against which water pressure A'will act to Amove the housing outwardly, and

means on the conduit and cooperating with a portion ofthe housing during sliding movement of the housing on the conduit for varying the effective size of the outlets and the water pressure acting against the second area, so that outward' movement of the housing gradually reducesthe water pressure against said second surface, whereby the housing will move in one direction or the other until one opposing force and the weight of the housing balance the other force, said means on the conduit comprising a rim on the end ofthe latter adapted to reduce the area of communication between the water under line pressure and the outlets.

8; A sprinkler comprising, a hollow conduit adapted to be connected to a water line and having outlet openings adjacent its end, a sprinkler housing having a journal opening slidably receiving the end of the conduit, an inner chambery into which the end of the conduit projects, an end wall beyond the end of the conduit and sprinkler outlet openings communicating with the chamber, a head on the conduit between said end wall and outlets on the conduit and constructed and arranged with respect to such outlets as to vary the amount the outlet openings on the housing are open to the chamber below the head means as the housing slidably moves on the conduit, and means in the chamber for causing water under the pressure it enters the chamber to exert a force directly acting against outward movement of the housing, the arrangement being such that water flowing past said head and against the end wall exerts a pressure overcoming the weight of the housing and the direct pressure against said means in the chamber until the head in moving over said sprinkler outlets so reduces the pressure against the end wall that it becomes balanced by the direct pressure against said means in the chamber and the weight of the housing.

9. A sprinkler comprising a water pressiuc conduit line, a sprinkler housing slidably receiving the end of the conduit and having a chamber into which the end of the conduit projects and with which it communicates so that water may flow through the chamber, an end wall on the housing beyond the end of the conduit, sprinkler outlets on the housing and communicating with the chamber, means on the conduit cooperating with a'portion of the housing and depending on movement of the housing slidably on the conduit for gradually cutting off communication between the outlets and the water under line pressure entering the chamber and for reducing the pressure of thewater against said end wall, and surface means in the chamber for causing the water entering the chamber under line pressure to constantly urge the housing inwardly in opposition to' the pressure against said end wall, whereby said opposition pressures in conjunction with the weight of the housing may be balanced and the housing placed in a position of oating equilibrium.

10. A sprinklercomprising a tubular element, means for supplying water under pressure to the element, a member rotatably and slidably mounted on the element and having a. hollow portion, a cap secured to one end ofthe element and located within said hollow portion, outlet means on the member and communicating with the hollow portion adjacent thecap, means communicating the tubular element with the hollow portion of the member to allow water to ow into the latter and to the outlet means, means for eiecting sliding movement of 'the member through action of the water, and means on the cap cooperating with said member for variably controlling the degree of water discharge communication of the outlets with the hollow portion in a manner depending upon the sliding position of the member to decrease the degree of waterdischarge communication as the water pressure increases and to increase the degree of water discharge communication as the water pressure decreases.

11. A sprinkler comprising a tubular element, means for supplying water under pressure to the element, a member rotatably and slidably mounted on the element and having a hollow portion, a cap secured to one end of the element and located within said hollow portion, outlet means on the lmember and communicating with the hollow portion adjacent the cap, means communicating the tubular element with the hollow portion of the member to allow water to iiow into the latter and to the outlet means, means for effecting sliding movement of the member through vaction of the water, and means on the cap cooperating with said member for variably controlling the degree of water discharge communication of the outlets with the hollow portion in a manner depending upon the sliding position of the member to decrease the degree of water discharge communication as the water pressure increases and to increase the degree of water discharge communication as the water pressure decreases and for limiting the sliding position of the member.

12. A sprinkler comprising an upwardly projectin-g tubular element, means connecting the lower end of the element to a source of water supply, a hollow sprinkler housing rotatable on the element in water bearing relation thereto and receiving the upper end of the element and having a water communication therewith and also having a downwardly projecting tubular portion open at its lower end and which receives the element, sprinkler outlets on the housing and communicating with the interior of the latter, and means on the lower and open end of the tubular portion for causing water leaking between the element and tubular portion to be thrown away from the sprinkler.

13. A sprinkler comprising an upwardly projecting tubular element, means connecting the lower end of the element to a source of water supply, a hollow sprinkler housing rotatable on the element in water bearing relation thereto and receiving the upper end of the element and having a water communication therewith and also having a. downwardly projecting tubular portion open at its lower end and which receives the element, sprinkler outlets on the housing and communicating with the interior of the latter, and means on the lower and open end 4of the tubular portion for causing water leaking between the element and tubular portion to be thrown away from the sprinkler, said last mentioned means comprising a downwardly and outwardly flared rim at the lower end of the tubular portion wherein the the ilaring extends to the inner surface of the portion whereby leaking water flowing downwardly between the element and portion is directed immediately to the ared surface.

14. A sprinkler comprising a tubular central element having outlet openings adjacent one end and provided with a water pressure supply at the other end, a casing member rotatably and slidably mounted on said central element and having a hollow portion and two sets of exteriorly opening i sprinkler openings communicating with said hollow portion in different radial planes, and means for effecting vertical sliding movement of the casing, said hollow portion and said central element being so constructed and arranged relative 351 to each other that communication between one of said sets of sprinkler openings and the outlet openings in the central element is substantially cut oli when the casing is in one of its slidable positions and is increasingly opened as the cas- QO. ing leaves said position, while the other set of 50, closely receiving and rotatably mounted on the element, sprinkler outlets on the member and communicating with the interior thereof, means communicating the upper end of the element with the interior of the member to permit the ilow of water thereinto, and outlet means on the tubular portion intermediate its ends and communicating with the interior of the tubular portion and the outer surface of the element for directing and drawing water leaking downwardly between the portion and element away from the sprinkler and throwing it centrifugally away from the latter.

16. A sprinkler comprising an upwardly projecting tubular element, means conecting the lower end of the element to a source of water supply, a sprinkler housing rotatably mounted and vertically slidable on the element in water communication with the upper end thereof and having a tubular portion open at its lower end receiving the element for centering it during rotation and guiding it during sliding movement, sprinkler outlets on the housing in communication with the interior thereof, means depending on the water pressure and flow of water for effecting vertical sliding of the housing and balancing thereof on a water bearing, and means on the lower end of the tubular portion for directing and drawing water leaking downwardly between the tubular portion and outer surface of the element, centrifugally away from the sprinkler.

17. A sprinkler comprising an upwardly projecting tubular element, means connecting the lower end of the element to a source of water supply, a sprinkler housing rotatably mounted and vertically slidable on the element in water communication with the upper end thereof and having a tubular portion open at its lower end receiving the element for centering it during rotation and guiding it during sliding movement, sprinkler outlets on the housing in communication with the interior thereof, means depending on the water pressure and flow of water for effecting vertical sliding of the housing and balancing thereof on a water bearing, and means on the lower end of the tubular portion for directing and drawing water leaking downwardly between the tubular portion and outer surface of the element, centrifugally away from the sprinkler, said last mentioned means comprising outlets on the tubular portion communicating with the interior thereof for centrifugally drawing water leaking downwardly, away from the sprinkler and throwing it outwardly therefrom.

FENN M. HOLDEN. 

